Rail splice



Dec 18, 1956 w. T. ANTHONY RAIL SPLICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1952 ATTORN Y mv NM N WM United States PatentO RAIL SPLICE William T. Anthony, Bethlehem, Pa., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 19, 1952, Serial No. 272,356

Claims. (Cl. 238--251) My invention relates to splices for railway rails and particularly to the fastening means for the same whereby the splice bars can be quickly and easily installed and removed, and is more especially adapted for-use in mines or like places, although I do not limit its use for this purpose as it can be used in making any splice for rail- Way rail sections.

In a mine entry or room, at the working face of coal, rock or other material which is in the process of cutting or excavation, it is desirable to have a mine car located on the track close to the working face, so that the mined material can be readily loaded therein, and this results in continually adding additional rail sections or relocating the track structure.

Mine operators object to the length of time required (to accumulate and install the splice bars and bolts and then turn the nuts thereon all the way up on the bolts.

One of the objects of my invention relates to making a quick joint for connecting the rail sections together or to disconnecting the sections to speed up the laying and relocating of the track structure.

Another object of my invention relates to forming a splice joint for connecting rail sections made up of two splice bars which interlock together in such a manner as to eliminate the possibility of losing bolts and nuts when removing and assembling track sections from one location to another.

A further object of my invention relates to forming blanks for a pair of coa'cting splice bars of uniform cross section by rolling action.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring now to the annexed two sheets of drawings which forms a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference refer to like parts.

Figure l is a transverse section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4, showing my improved angular type splice bars attached to the rail.

Fig. 2 is an inner side elevation of the pin angle bar section for the rail splice.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section view of the wedge angle bar section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of a pair of railway rails showing the wedge angle bar applied thereto in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section view showing the meeting ends of a pair of rails taken on the line 55 of Fig. 6 of a pair of rails with a modified form of splice bars attached thereto of the J-type.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an inner side elevation of the pin splice bar shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the wedge splice bar shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

" 2,774,542 lca Patented Dec. 18, 1956 2 2, web 3 with transverse holes formed therein as at 4, and base flanges 5.

Angular splice bars 6 and 7 connect the meeting ends of the rails together. The heads of the splice bars which ;C0ntact with the under surfaces of the rail heads 2 are indicated at 8 and the lower surfaces of the flanges which contact with the upper surfaces of the base flanges 5 are indicated at 9. The left hand splice bar 6 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with holes 10 in its vertical web, through which extend standard button headed rivets 11, theinner surface of the heads 12 of which engage the outer surface of the splice bar 6 and is welded thereto as at 13, while the outer extending ends of each is provided in its upper and lower side surfaces with vertically aligned grooves 14.

The right hand splice bar 7 shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is somewhat longer than the splice bar 6 and engages the under side of the head and base flanges in a similar manner to that described for splice bar 6.

Splice bar 7 is further provided with keyhole-slots 15 each of which has one end enlarged to form an eye as at 16. The inner surface of the splice bar 7, immediately circumjacent to the narrower portion of the keyhole-slots 15 is provided with forged depressions 17 in the inner face forming correspondingly inclined raised lips or bosses providing wedge surfaces 13 on the outer face of the splice bar 7 immediately circumjacent to the keyhole-slots 15.

In assembling the splice bars 6 and 7, the splice bar 6 is applied first to one side of the meeting end of a pair of rails, the pins or shanks of the rivets 11 passing through the holes 4 in the webs 3 of the rails 11, the splice bar 7 is then applied to the other side of the rail ends, the ends of the pins 11 first passing through the eyes 16 of the keyhole-slots 15 with the vertically aligned grooves 14 adjacent thereto, and the Wedge splice bar 7 is then slid longitudinally by means of a hammer or the like engaging the left hand end of the splice bar 7 as shown in Fig. 4 for the outer vertical sides of the grooves 14 to engage the wedge surfaces 18. Y

The splice bars 6 and 7 will then be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. p

To remove the splice bars 6 and 7, all that is necessary is to slide the splice bar 7 by hammering the right hand end of the splice bar 7 until the ends of the grooved ends of the pins or rivets 11 are in the eyes 16 of the keyholeslots 15; the splice bars 6 and 7 will then be released and the splice bars can then be removed. 7

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, which show a light weight splice bar of the J-type for connecting the meeting ends of a pair of rails of standard T se'ction similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 4 in which in' this case the meeting ends of the rails are indicated as at 19-19, each having a head 20, web 21 with transverse holes formed therein as at 22, and base flanges 23.

Splice bars of the J-type 24 and 25 connect the abutting meeting ends'of the rails together. Each of these splice bars 24 and 25 are provided at the top and bottom outer edges with outwardly extending longitudinal beads 27 and 28 respectively.

The upper top edges of the splice bars which contact with the under surfaces of the rail heads 20 are indicated at 29 and the lower edges of the splice bars which contact with the upper surfaces of the base flanges 23 are indicated as at 30. The splice bar 24 shown on the left hand side of the rail in Fig. 6 is provided with a plurality of holes 31 through which extend standard round button headed rivets 32, the inner surface of the heads 33 of which engage the outer surface of the splice bar 24 and welded thereto as at 34, while the inwardly extending ends form pins and are each provided at their upper and lower side surfaces with vertically aligned grooves 35.

or cold sawing too expensive.

The splice bar .25 shown on the right hand side of the rail in Fig. 6, is somewhat longer than the splice bar 24 as shown in Figs. 5 and 8 and engages the under side of the head-and base flanges of the rails in a similar manner to that described for splice bar 24.

As shown in Fig. 8, the splice bar 25 is also pro- :vided withkeyhole-slots 36 each of which has one end enlarged to form an eye as at 37. The inner surface .of. the splice bar 25 immediately circumjacent to the narrower portion of the keyhole-slots 36 is further provided .with forged inclined depressions 38, forming correspondingly inclined raised lips or bosses providing wedge surfaces .39 on theouter face of the splice bar 25 immedi- .'ately circumjacent to each longitudinal side of the keyhole-slots 3.6.

ilnassem'bling and removing the splice bars 24 and 25the operation is similar to that described for Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The splice bar 24 is applied first to one vside .of the rails, the pins or shanks of the rivets 32, passing through the holes 22 in the webs 21 of the rails 1919, the splice bar 25 is then applied to the other side of the meeting rail ends, the end of the rivets or .pins .32 first passing through the eyes 37 of the key- ;hole-slots with the vertical aligned grooves 35 adjacent thereto, and the wedge splice bar 25 is then slid longitudinally by means of a hammer or the like engaging the left hand end of the splice bar 25 as shown in Fig. 5 for the-outer aligned vertical side of the grooves 35 to engage the wedge surfaces 18. The splice bar 25 will then be in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

It will be understood that this dotted line position of the splice .bar 25 indicated in Fig. 5, may be varied as the splice bar 25 is somewhat longer than splice bar 24 and it may be necessary to slide the splice bar 25 a greater or less amount to produce the proper gripping action between the pins and the wedges.

To remove the splice bars 24 and 25 all that is neces sary is to slide the splice bar 25 by hammering the right hand end of the splice bar 25 shown in Fig. 5 until the ends of the rivets or pins 32 are in the eyes 37 of the keyhole-slots 36, the splice bars 24 and 25 will then be in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 5, and the splice bars can then be removed.

The usual method of forming and finishing rail joint splice bars is as follows: a billet is first hot rolled in a plurality of roll passes to reduce it to the desired cross-sectional area. After being rolled, into lengths of about ninety-three feet long, the bars are immediately hot sawed into three equal lengths, then cooled and sent to the splice bar shop. Here they are sheared cold to lengths required, punched and straightened and also notchcdif they are adapted to receive spikes.

In general, rail joint bars may be finished in one of three ways. First, all the operations of shearing to lengths, straightening and punching may be performed be done while they are hot, after which they are allowed to cool in the air. In this case they are called hotworked bars. Third, instead of cooling the bars in the air after hot working they may be cooled by immersing them in oil, when they are designated as hot-worked oil quenched bars. It will be observed that in this method, as in the other two methods, the bar are sheared to lengthcold, hot shearing being impracticable, and hot The hot working and heat treating has so improved the bars, that practically all iangle jbars .used on trunk line railroads are finished by this process.

It will be noted that the hot-worked oil quenched bar is at present the only representative of heat treated rail joint bars.

Of course, other methods ofv treatment, such as quenching in water and tempering, could be used, but oil is preferable because it protects the material from rust and eliminates the necessity for annealing or tempering after quenching, the quenching in oil giving about the same resuits as a low temperature after quenching in water.

It is necessary to employ confining dies during the punching and forging operations, that is, the cutting die must be enclosed in a die block or frame and the surfaces of said die block must conform in shape to the surfaces of the splice bar, in this manner, the wedges on the splice bar may be formed simultaneously with the punching operation.

For illustration, I have shown a two pin splice bar but it would apply equally well to a four or six pin splice bar.

Although I have shown and described my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention or as pointed out in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a rail-splice for connecting adjacent rail ends, comprising a pair of splice bars disposed on opposite sides of the rails and adapted to fit between the head and base flanges of the rail, each splice bar having continuous and uniform contact with the underside of the rail head and the topside of the rail flange, one of said splice bars being formed with a plurality of pins extending through holes therein and welded thereto each having adjacent to its outer end vertically aligned grooves, and the other splice bar adapted for longitudinal adjustment and formed with a plurality of keyholeslots, a forged depression and inclined outer lips formed adjacent to each keyhole slot, said inclined outer lips engaging the vertically aligned grooves in the pins when the splice bar is longitudinally adjusted for frictional engagement, and causing the splice bar to retain full contact with the rail head and flange.

2. In a splice bar for connecting rails, said splice bar being formed of a metal blank and having continuous and uniform contact with the underside of the rail head and the topside of the rail flange, keyhole-slots formed there in, a forged depression in the inner surface of the splice bar immediately above and below each keyhole-slot forming wedge surfaces on the outer face of the bar adjacent to each keyhole-slot, said wedge surfaces being planar and continuous on the web portion of the splice bar and said wedge bar surfaces retaining full contact with the rail head and flange.

3. In a rail-splice for connecting adjacent rail ends, comprising a pair of splice bars disposed on opposite sides of the rail and adapted to fit between the head and base flanges of the rail, each splice bar having continuous and uniform contact with the underside of the rail head and the topside of the rail flange, the splice bar on one side of the rail having a plurality of extending pins integrally secured thereto and passed through the webs of the rail ends, recesses formed in the outer end portion of each pin, the coacting splice bar mounted on the other side of the rail being longitudinally adjustable and provided with keyhole-slots for receiving the recessed end portions of the pins, substantially U-shaped raised wedge portions on the outer face of the last-mentioned splice bar adjacent to the keyhole-slots to frictionally engage the recessed ends of the pins and cause the splice bar to retain full contact with the rail head and flange when said splice bar is longitudinally adjusted, and correspondingly inclined depressed portions on the inner face of said splice bar beneath the wedge portions.

4. In a rail splice for connecting adjacent rail ends comprising a pair of splice bars disposed on opposite sides 'of'the rail, each splice bar having continuous and uniform contact with the underside of the rail head and the top side of the rail flange, one splice bar on one side of the rail being fixed and having a plurality of extending pins integrally secured thereto and passed through the webs of the rail ends, vertically spaced recesses formed in the end portion of each pin, a coacting wedge splice bar mounted on the other side of the rail for longitudinal sliding movement and provided with keyhole-slots, an eye formed at one end of each keyhole-slot for initially receiving the recessed end portion of the pins, raised lips forming inclined wedge surfaces adjacent to the keyholeslots to frictionally engage the recessed ends of the pins and to retain the splice bars in continuous uniform contact with the rail head and flange when the wedge splice bar is longitudinally adjusted in one direction and to release the splice bar-s when the wedge bar is adjusted in the reverse direction.

5. In a rail splice for connecting adjacent rail ends, comprising a pair of splice bars disposed on opposite sides of the rail, each splice bar having continuous and uniform contact with the underside of the rail head and the topside of the rail flange, one of said splice bars secured to one side of the nail in relatively fixed relation thereto, a plurality of pins integrally secured thereto and passed through the webs of the rail ends, recesses formed in the extending end portion of each pin, a coacting wedge splice bar of greater length than the pin splice bar mounted for longitudinal sliding movement and provided with keyholeslots, an eye formed at one end of each keyhole-slot for receiving the recessed end portion of the pins, raised bosses constituting wedge surfaces adjacent to the keyhole-slots formed to frictionally engage the recessed ends of the pins and to maintain said splice bars in continuous uniform contact with the rail head and flange when the wedge splice bar is longitudinally adjusted in one direction and to release the splice bars when the wedge bar is adjusted in the reverse direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 118,075 Vanstone Aug. 15, 1871 383,763 Phillips May 29, 1888 647,983 Park Apr. 24, 1900 723,512 Bischotf Mar. 24, 1903 1,034,715 Knighton Aug. 6, 1912 1,085,553 Dull Jan. 27, 1914 1,161,788 Oligher Nov. 23, 1915 1,373,240 Hartwig Mar. 29, 1921 1,380,369 Fields June 7, 1921 

